Buffy Summers (The Girlfriend): You know, I don't think his style is too bad. I mean, you have to take into consideration that all year, really since high school, he's been helping us fight d…d…dead-beat dads. *Uncomfortable Cough* *Sideways glance*

Willow Rosenberg (The Best Friend): I think he definitely needs to change his hair. I think he's trying to go for the Shaggy look, you know, from Scooby Doo. He's really obsessed with that show. He calls all of us "The Scoobies".

"Spike" (The…Special Friend?): He's a nerd. Anyway you look at it. Aren't you supposed to be going after straight guys? I have serious suspicions that that boy is a Nancy, if you catch my drift.

Richard Hankins (The Co-Worker): I don't know much about his fashion. I would sort of like to see a clean shirt, though. He always has these brown stains, and I think it's because he repairs cars in his spare time. It'd be nice to see him spruced up. (Off screen voice: Will you be attending the party?) What? There's a party?

*******************

"Kyan, what are we thinking about doing with his hair?" Carson asked from his usual position in the front passenger seat.

"Well, Xander, your hair really isn't too big of an issue. I think what we'll do is just trim it up a little. I'm not sure that the shag look is the right look for your…face shape." He said while propping his chin up with his hand.

"You've got those chubby cheeks, like a lil' chipmunk." Carson teased. "I don't know about clothes…What do you think of cowboy?"

"What? Cowboy? I-,"

"Oh, that'd be sexy, wouldn't it?" Kyan remarked. "I can't just see those dust covered jeans."

"But I think that's what we have to avoid. He needs some clean clothes." He turned to Xander. "You're a big boy now and I think it's time you stop making those mud pies in the back yard."

"Mud pies? I don't make mud pies."

"Then what are those stains?" Kyan asked.

"Oh, yeah…" He laughed uncomfortably. "I – I didn't want to admit it but that's what it is. Mud pies. With my…nephew."

"Oh, you have siblings? Do we get to see them?"

"They're…dead."

"All of them?"

"Yup. My niece is in foster care but I still see her."

"Nephew, you mean."

"Yeah. Nephew."

They found a store in the mall and ran inside. "I keep forgetting, Carson, we're a long ways from New York." Kyan said.

"Try this on." Carson threw a pile of jeans and assorted t-shirts into Xander's arms.

"But I-,"

"Go." He shoved him into a changing room. He hesitantly came out a few minutes later in a pink sequined shirt and some tight fitting jeans.

"God no. This is terrible." He said, looking down at himself. Carson took him in.

"Guess you were a little heavier than I thought. We'll get you another pair of jeans, don't worry. But that shirt is phenomenal on you. It goes great with your skin tone. They'll love it." He turned around and went back into the changing room, emerging a moment later in some loose khaki's and a dark green and yellow striped polo shirt.

"A little too dressy for your occasion, I think." Carson twirled his finger. "Spin for me." Xander obeyed. "Doesn't fit quite right in the crotch area." He indicated the area he was talking about on Xander, making him turn read. "Oh, you know you like it. I saw those pictures."

Back at his apartment, Thom and Jai were organizing his bedroom.

"Oh my god, look at these." Jai came out of his closet with some more photos. Thom put his hand over his mouth and took a look at them.

"What is his deal?" Thom showed one to the camera. It was a picture of Andrew skinny-dipping in the local pool. It was blurry in places. "I bet he's having a grand old time with Carson." He chuckled.

In the living/kitchen areas Thom and Jai were dusting and organizing, finding an assortment of odd things including a surplus of handcuffs and other paraphernalia, a few more pictures, the expected protections against evil, and that purplish slimy stuff. There was really no escaping it and it didn't come up very easy.

"Hey, have you heard of this movie called 'Saving Silverman'?" Xander asked, standing there in some seventies-ish jeans and a blue shiny shirt.

"I've never seen it." Carson answered. "What about you, Kyan? You seen it?" He shook his head.

"Well, the guys in it have this Neil Diamond cover band…" Kyan laughed at that.

"You don't look like Neil Diamond, I swear. Actually, I think this is what you'll wear to that party of yours. What do you think?"

"Oh, yeah." Carson put his hands on Xander's shoulders. "Let's go to the salon now." They ran out to their SUV.

Ted walked into a catering place and walked up to the counter. "Yeah, hi. My friend is having a get together with some of his friends and I was thinking about having you all, uh, cater my friend's party." He took a bite of a little sandwich. "This is alright, but do you have something with salmon?"

"How many people will we have to feed?" The lady behind the counter asked politely.

"Oh, I hadn't thought of that." He got out his cell phone. "Yeah, Carson? How many people are we talking about?" He paused, listening. "That many?" He laughed. "Ok, great. Thanks." He hung up. "About fifty." He announced.

The scene switched to Jai sitting heavily on a couch. "I like this one. Bouncy." He began bouncy some more, and Thom was talking to the furniture sales guy.

Thom pointed out a painting to Jai. It was kind of cracked, it was a painting of grapes. "You like it?"

"Yeah, we could paint the walls that color maybe."

 *Commercial break, end of chapter two*